Tack handling and driving mechanisms



TACK HANDLING AND DRIVING MECHANISMS Filed F'b. 2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l H 5 37 ii 33 a: J3

. 2a" 2/ Inventors f7 2] 7 M'ZZz'am ABar-zon 7 [5 i9 [7 Ken nezl'z B Rulford E1 4 ArzhurA.Rw1hyf0n y 5 B th l'r A Aug. 23, 1955 w. A. BARTON EI'AL 2,

TACK HANDLING AND DRIVING MECHANISMS Filed Feb. 2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [n21 9 atom T/Villz'am fLBarzfon Kenneth B. Pu [ford Patented Aug. 23, 1955 TACK HANDLING AND DRIVING MECHANISMS William Arthur Barton, Kenneth Blanchard Pulford, and Arthur Alan Rivington, Leicester, England, assignors to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 2, 1952, Serial No. 269,654

Claims priority, application Great Britain February 22, 1951 12 Claims. (Cl. 1210.7)

This invention relates to tack driving mechanisms wherein the tacks are separately received from a tack feeding source into a tack driving throat, and in particular it relates to a novel and improved mechanism for presenting the tack to a work piece and for driving the tack home into the work piece while preventing a very small tack head from being punched through the work piece by the driver.

Although the hereinafter illustrated embodiment of the invention is shown, by way of example, as applicable to a machine for conforming shoe uppers t0 the shapes of lasts within the uppers, it will be understood, of course, that the present invention is of broader utility and, therefore, not limited either to use in a shoe lasting machine or to a device of the exact mechanical construction shown. The illustrated embodiment relates to a step-by-step lasting machine, such, for instance, as the general type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 584,744, granted June 15, 1897, on an application filed in the name of S. W. Ladd et al.; such machines being commonly known in the shoe manufacturing trade as hand method lasting machines.

In the lasting of shoe uppers by machines of the above-mentioned type, and particularly in securing the marginal portion of an upper in lasted relation to a shoe bottom member (e. g. an insole) by means of tacks, it is sometimes desired to use relatively light and short tacks, especially when the upper and insole materials are of a relatively light character. For this purpose it is not uncommon to employ tacks some threesixteenths of an inch or less in length. The advantages obtained from the use of these very small or micro tacks are the minimizing of the extent to which the points of the tacks must be clinched over on the interior of a shoe, and the minimizing of the weight of metallic-fastening material in the finished shoe. Tackseparating and feeding mechanisms suitable for handling small tacks of this kind are illustrated and described in United States Letters Patent No. 2,491,614, granted December 20, 1949, on an application filed in the name of F. B. Keall; one of said mechanisms being therein described as adapted for operation in conjunction with hand method lasting machines of the type disclosed in the previously-mentioned patent to Ladd et al. As is well known in the art of shoemaking, a lasting machine of this kind has a gripper for pulling an upper over a last successively in different locations as the last with an upper and an insole assembled thereon is presented in different positions by the operator, a wiper movable inwardly over the bottom of the last to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the outer face of the insole, and a driver for driving a tack through an opening in the wiper to fasten the tensioned marginal portion of the upper in lasted position to the insole.

It has been found that when using a machine of the kind above referred to, fitted with tack-inserting means adapted to insert small tacks having greatly reduced tack head areas, there is a tendency, on occasions. for the driver of the tack-inserting means to punch a small tack head through the upper material in the act of driving a tack thereinto. This is particularly noticeable when lasting around the toe portions of shoes or along the waist portions of high-heeled shoes. When operating around the toe portion of a shoe, the operator must cause the machine to effect a pleating action on the upper, and, as these pleats are formed, the general level of the shoe bottom is lowered somewhat with respect to the Wiper. Hence, in order to insure that the tacks are driven fully home, the operator usually sets the driver mechanism so that the driving face of the driver protrudes, at the end of its tack-driving stroke, some little distance (usually of the order of one-eighth inch) below the bottom face of the wiper with the result that if a rack is driven at one of the higher levels defined by one of the pleats the head of the tack is driven through one or more layers of the upper material. Similarly, when operating along the waist portions of a shoe mounted upon a last designed to accommodate a comparatively high heel, the sharply curved portion (considered heightwise of the shoe) of the last bottom, rearwardly of the ball line may not in some locations be held flush with the under face of the wiper, thus leaving a space between that face and the upper. In the latter instance it has also been found by the operator that in order to assure that the tack is Well-driven home'' to form a tight clinch, the driver face should protrude a substantial amount beneath the bottom face of the wiper. However, in other locations where the portion of the upper being operated upon may be held fiush up against the wiper bottom, the same degree of protuberance of the driver will cause the tack to be overdriven into the work so that the small tack head frequently punctures the upper material.

While the above-described difiiculty occurs most prevalently in connection with the driving of very small tack heads, the utility of this invention is in no Way limited to the use of micro tacks, because it has been observed that, under certain conditions, tacks having relatively large heads may be overdriven, thus causing the upper material to be punctured by the head of the tack. The latter instance has been particularly observed, in connection with larger tack heads, when the upper material is of poor grade or thin leather which is backed with an overplump fabric material as a lining.

It is one of the various objects of this invention to provide improved fastening inserting means, particularly suitable for use in a machine of the kind above referred to, by the employment of Which such tendency for the driver to punch through the upper material is minimized.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel tack driving mechanism which permits the driver uni formly to drive home each tack head by employing a driving stroke of sufficient extent forcefully to reach, in each instance, the Work surface even though the proximity of said surface may vary somewhat for the reasons as above stated.

The illustrative machine hereinafter described is provided with tack inserting means which include a tack receptacle in the form of a nozzle movable with the wiper and arranged, first, to receive a tack just prior to the wiping operation and While in a tack receiving position, and then to move over the work during the wiping operation into a position beneath and in alignment with the tack driver so that the driver may be operated through a tack passage or throat in said nozzle; the tack being controlled during the driving thereof by means of tack controlling fingers associated with the nozzle in a wellknown manner.

With the above-mentioned objects in view, and in accordance with another feature of the invention, this nozzle of the herein illustrative machine, in addition to being urged toward each other by springs 25, 25 having their forward ends resiliently located within notches 27, 27 formed in the fingers, while the rearward ends of the springs are clamped to the carrier block 5 by means of a bolt 29 and nut 31. In addition to pressing the tack fingers into closed position, the springs 25 also serve to urge the entire tack receptacle or nozzle assembly upwardly to a raised position in its guideway in the carrier, the upward force of the springs being transmitted to the body of the receptacle through the fingers 21 and their pivot pins 23. This upward movement of the receptacle is limited by the engagement of an upper face 33 thereon with a cover plate 35 secured to the top of the carrier block 5, Fig. 4. The plate 35 has an opening therethrongh concentric with the tack passage 9 of the receptacle to receive an upwardly extending portion 37 of the receptacle body. The lower extent of the tack passage 9 is defined by an annular work-engaging member 39 having a bore only slightly larger than the diameter of the driver 17. This member 39 is brazed, or otherwise suitably secured, to the bottom face of the conical portion 15 of the tack receptacle body.

Secured to the driver bar, by which the driver 17 is reciprocated, is a leg 41 having a cylindrical abutment foot 43 which, when depressed by the driver mechanism, is adapted to engage the elevated portion 37 of the tack receptacle thus bearing downward upon the body of the receptacle to overcome the upward force of the springs 25. As viewed in Fig. 4, the driver 17 has passed through the passage 9, through the tack fingers and is protruding a slight extent beyond the lower levels of the work-engaging member 39 and wiper 7. At this phase of the driving stroke the abutment foot 43 engages portion 37 of the receptacle body so that continued downward movement of the driver and abutment foot carries the entire tack receptacle or nozzle assembly downward a like amount thus maintaining the relative position of the driver face with respect to the worloengaging member 39 up to the completion of the driving stroke, as illustrated in Fig. 5. It is to be noted that the wiper 7, in the vicinity of the tack nozzle, is relieved to provide suficient clearance for the nozzle assembly at the completion of the tack driving operation.

It is to be understood that the downward extent of the driver stroke is adjustable, as is customary, by locking the driver at different elevations with respect to its driver bar. In like manner the degree to which the tack nozzle participates in the downward movement of the driver may be regulated by adjusting the horizontal position of the abutment foot 43 with respect to the driver bar or driver 17; thus, by setting the leg 41 higher with respect to the position of the driver bar, the extent to which the member 39 protrudes beneath the wiper may be decreased. Such a setting might be desirable when only operating upon work presenting a perfectly flat or even surface to be tacked. Where, however, due to irregularities in the surface contour of the work, the heads of tacks, after having been properly driven home, may be disposed at various levels, it is desirable to set the abutment foot 43 lower so that during the actual driving operation the nozzle member 39, in each instance, will be sufficiently depressed to bear downward upon the work surface in the vicinity of the tack head, thus consolidating the material and minimizing any risk of its bulging up around the driver as the tack is driven home. The fact that the driver is adjusted so as only to protrude a slight distance beyond the lower surface of the nozzle also tends to insure that the driver does not punch through the material even though the driving face of the driver may extend a substantial distance below the lower face of the wiper.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a fastening inserting machine provided with a reciprocating tack driver mechanism and a tack receptacle carrier block movable between a tack driving position in axial alignment with the driver and a tack receiving position laterally removed from the axis of the driver, titck receptacle yieldably supported within an opening extending heightwise through said carrier block so as normally to maintain the lower nozzle portion of the receptacle in a retracted position within the block, and means responsive to the operation of the driver mechafor movably engaging the receptacle to force it downward during the final phase of the driving operation.

2. A fastening inserting machine as recited in claim 1, wherein the tack receptacle is provided with tack controlling fingers each of which is pivotally mounted on the body portion of the receptacle and movable within a recess in the receptacle, and resilient means each secured to the carrier block and movably connected to one of said fingers, said resilient means, fingers and pivotal mountings on the receptacle body portion being so consfz'zieted and arranged with respect to each other that the fingers are urged laterally toward each other for controlling the tack and at the same time urged heightwise yieldably to support the receptacle within the carrier block. 1

3. In a fastening inserting machine provided with a reciprocating tack driver mechanism and a tack receptacle carrier block movable between a tack driving position in axial alignment with the driver and a tack receiving position laterally removed from the tack driving positizzz, a tack receptacle yieldably supported within an opening extending heightwise through said carrier block so as normally to maintain the lower nozzle portion of the receptacle in a retracted position within the block, and means responsive to the operation of the driver mechanism for movably engaging the receptacle when the driver protrudes a predetermined distance beyond the nozzle to force it downward during the final phase of the driving operation, whereby the tack engaging face of the driver may only extend a controlled amount bereath the level of the nozzle portion regardless of the magnitude of the driving stroke.

4. In a fastening inserting machine, provided with a reciprocating tack driver, the combination of a tack receptacle having a nozzle surface engageable with the rk, carrier means operable in timed relation to the driver for moving said receptacle in directions extending transverse to the axis of the driver between tack receiving and tack driving positions, yieldable supporting means normally biasing the receptacle heightwise so as t position the nozzle surface a distance above the work, and movable means responsive to the descent of the driver and arranged to engage the receptacle when the tack-engaging face of the driver protrudes a predetermined distance beneath the nozzle surface, whereby, during the remainder of the descending stroke of the driver, the receptacle is moved concomitantly therewith to press its nozzle surface downward upon the Work in the vicinity surrounding the face of the driver.

5. In a fastening inserting machine, providing with a re iprocating tack driver, the combination of a tack receptacle having a nozzle surface engageable with the Work, and yieldable tack controlling fingers above said surface for presenting a tack in proper axial alignment to the driver, carrier means operable in timed relation to the driver for moving said receptacle in directions extending transverse to the axis of the driver between tack receiving and tack driving positions, tack receptacle supporting means normally biasing the receptacle heightwise so as to position the nozzle surface a distance above the work, and abutment means responsive to the descent of the driver and arranged to engage the receptacle when the tack-engaging face of the driver protrudes a predetermined distance beneath the nozzle surface, whereby, during the remainder of the descending stroke of the driver, the receptacle is moved concomitantly therewith tmppess-tits nozzl surface downward' upon th'e -workin:

it carrier means operahlwinfltimed relat-iontor the driver for moving said rceeptacle; in=directicns extending transverse to the aais of the dfiverbetweem'tack' receivin-g andtack dfiv'ingpositionsg yieldable supporting mean's u'rging saidreceptacleheightwise s0 asitnor-mal ly to maintain the t nozzle surface above the workin spaced-apart relation thereto;-- ai1d rnovable meansresponsive to the descent of the driver andarranged to engage the receptaclewhenthe J tack errgaging face of the: driver protrudesa predetermined distance beneath thei'nozzle'surfaceg -wherebw during the remainder of -the descendingstroke-of thedriver, the re- 7 ceptacle isi=moved'iconcomitan-tly therewith to-pressits nozzle;srirfilce 'downward uporr th'e work in the vicinity surrounding=the faee ofathedriver: f 7. lir a fastening inscrting machine, provided with a r'eciprocating tack' driver, thewombination of a tack rece taclehaving a nozzle snrfaee engageable with the wk; and yieldable tack controlling; fingers:- above. said surface for presenting a tack in proper axial alignmentto thefidr'iverg carrier meansoperable -in= timed relation'to the 4 di iverrformoving said receptacle :in directions extending transverseito'the axis of thedriver between tack receiving aad tack' driving positions, resilient means urging said re-- ceptacleheig'htwis'e so '-as -normal ly-tomaintai-nthe nozzle surface above-Whiz: worki in spaced 'apart relation thereto, anW'abiR-tnent means responsive-to' the descent of the driver and arranged'to engagethereceptacle when the tack engaging face of the driver protrudes a predetermined distance benea-ththe nozzle=surface, whereby, during the remainder ofthe descending *stroke of the driver;the re- I ceptaele is'=moved concomitantly therewith' to press its nozzle surfaee downward upon -the-work in the vicinity surrounding 'theface of ithe driver.

8. Iiia step b'y-ste'p lasting machine; provided with are-' ciprocatin'g taek driver and a wiper surface on the lower face of a carrier block reciprocally operatedin timedre lation'to'th'eoperation of theadriver, the combination of a tack receptacle supported with-in said blockkand carried thereby-in directions extending forwardly and' rearwardly ofthe machine between tack receiving T and tack driving positions," a WQPlGengaging'member defining the lower end of sai'd receptacle; means urging saidreceptacleand work engaging member heightwise normally to maintain themernber'atalevel above the wiper surface; and means movably en'gageable with saidreceptacle' during'the-"dr'iving operation-- to' 'displace said" receptacledownward th'rough an opening in; the wiper f to therebyforce the work engagin'g-'-memb'er against-the Work in the vicinityfof meat-war, V

9'.'*'In*-a step-'by-'step-' lasting machine, provided with a reciprocating;=-tack driver and a wiper surface on the l'werfaeeof acarrie'r blockreciprocally operatedin' timed relation to the operation of thefdriver; thecombination'of 7 attack receptacle supported: withmzsaidLbloclc aboverth'efi rectionsiextendinga wipertsurface andtcarriedetherebyiin forwardly: and rearwardly of .the machine :betweenctaeki receiving: and-i tack driving positions; a: work-engaging:

member definin'g thedower "end of 'saidreceptacle; resilient driving 'operation" to positively i displace said receptacle downward through 1 an opening int the f wiper- "to thereby; compact the:work engaging'member against the =work in th'eivicinity of the driver; a

10;- In alstep-by-step lasting and' tack driving machine provi'dedawith tack driving mechanism, a wiper carrier block, a tack receptacle:accommodated-ina socket 'ex tending rheightwise .in said block-above-thewiping-surface"; said receptacle having a passage:therethrough'for 'the ree ception of "a tack and tack driver,.a work-engaging mermber "surrounding the nozzle end ofsai'd passage, yie1d-abl-=' means urging said receptacle heightwise normally 40. main tain said member at a level above thewiping surface,=andabutment means movable-downward, during the-fastening-inserting stroke of f the driver, into engagement with said" receptacle, -to displace said '-:.receptacle downwardly through an 'openingin the wiper-tothereby force 'theiwork engagingmember against th'e 'work in the vicinityof the driven l1; Iniakfastening inserti-ngzmachine, the combination with areciprocatingztack driver; of-atack receptacle a1 ternatelvmovable in directions transverseto th e pathof the driver between tack receivingand tack inserting positions and in directions along the path of 'the' driver, said receptacle: having .a' lower nozzlesurface of decreased" width engageablewith the-workto provide a highi'pressure impact thereupon, means for yieldablv supporting the receptacle in= spaced apart relation to the workduring, said transverse movement, and means engageable withithe receptacle: during the descent of the driver to cause saidnozzle surface to be driven into contact with the. work. t

12. .In a fastening inserting machine, the combizia tion with a reciprocating tack driver, of -a-'-tack-receptacle' alternately movable in directions transverse tothe path'of the driver'between tack receiving and-- tack insertingpo sitions and in directions along the path of the driver;

mean'snfcr yieldably-supporti ng the receptacle in spaced apart relation to :the workduring said transverse move-' ment,:. and: means engageable with zth'e receptacle during the descent lot" I the: driver tocause 'th'e nozzle endof- -thereceptacle tO be-driVem-into contact with*th'e work inthe vicinity' of the: drivers Ri frences2CitedJiIr thefil'ecof thisipatent UNITED STATES PAiTENTS a 1,;82l,9'66 Goddu .Sep t.=t8,-193l 2,273,268- Hunter .Feb. 17', 1942 

